How do you send your demo recording to a booker in 2017?

[Tate Ferguson]

Not a mando-specific question, but -

In what form do you send your terrific demo recording to the booker of a club, coffee house, or whatever venue? I have the idea that audio CDs are outdated - am I right? Some type of internet method - but what?

Just wondering if there's a consensus here for the modern-day performing musician. Thanks.

[Chuck Leyda]

I try to put everything they need on one page and link it. They can listen while browsing, saves shipping, etc. I just send an email, try to include some personal stuff on their venue and give the link.

https://singletonstreet.com/press-kit

Can they ignore it?... sure, but they can also ignore a CD or mailed packet. This method seems to work well so far

[Joey Anchors]

Not a mando-specific question, but -

In what form do you send your terrific demo recording to the booker of a club, coffee house, or whatever venue? I have the idea that audio CDs are outdated - am I right? Some type of internet method - but what?

Just wondering if there's a consensus here for the modern-day performing musician. Thanks.

I was just wondering the same thing as I plan on booking my first solo shows next year. Great topic!

[Folkmusician.com]

I try to put everything they need on one page and link it. They can listen while browsing, saves shipping, etc. I just send an email, try to include some personal stuff on their venue and give the link.

https://singletonstreet.com/press-kit

Can they ignore it?... sure, but they can also ignore a CD or mailed packet. This method seems to work well so far

This is a great example.

I do feel you should hit them with both a physical press kit and the website.

Here is what we do for small run budget press kits (local bands).

Two pocket portfolio with a Business Card and a CD slot.
Printed sticker on the front of the Portfolio.

Band Bio
Concert Flyer
8X10
Set List if appropriate

CD - Printed (If they don't have a CD out). No paper stickers. We try to do full color and the CD is silver, so it is not obviously a CD-R. There is a good chance they will never listen to the CD, but it looks great and gives a professional appearance.

Business Card matches.

Concert Flyer - For small venues, we want it clear that we will help promote it and they don’t have to make a flyer.

Website - Immensely important. More for the booking than the fans. A nice website seals the deal. Have a digital press kit on the site.

The success rate with these has been really good.

[Tate Ferguson]

Thanks for the excellent info - you have figured it out admirably.

[Charlie Bernstein]

I send the press kit page of my website:

www.thefullertons.net/press-kit-and-gallery.html

[Charlie Bernstein]

This is a great example.

I do feel you should hit them with both a physical press kit and the website . . . .

Yup, that's the way to do it. We just have a website and could really use a paper press kit, too.

[roberto]

Spotify for the albums and youtubes for live samples.

[Bill Cameron]

I keep it simple. I visit the venue with my single-page brag sheet, which contains contact info, links to website, facebook, youtube page, one picture, and a brief description of who I am and what kind of music I play. A little tiny bit of homespun philosophy (since I admit to being a folksinger, I like to point out that I'm a performer, not an academic) but absolutely no purple prose. No metaphors! Hardly any adverbs! And dont waste their attention span describing other musicians whom you are not actually playing live with, and especially not listing the other semi-known performers the bass player on your demo worked with before his breakdown. Remember, bookers are deluged with this kind of stuff. They are not looking for brilliant purveyors of PR or your six degrees of separation from every musician on the planet, or another fat file folder to throw out. They just want to fill in their entertainment calendar with a minimum of fuss and bother, then get back to the liquor inventory.
OK I think this rant is already longer than my brag sheet. I follow up the visit, having found the bookers preferred communication method, by emailing or messaging a list of Youtube performance links that I want them to see. At that point, it's up to them, and I generally follow up to attempt to close a deal at the time (having made a few discreet inquities) I think they are actively booking the month I am looking for a gig there.
Good luck.

[Billy Packard]

??Does anyone ask the vendors what they want?

It seems that would be putting the horse in front of the cart.

Billy

billypackardmandolin.com

[Folkmusician.com]

Does anyone ask the vendors what they want?

I did. When we started doing this as a service, I interrogated everyone I met!

One of the main booking agents here (does a lot of the casino acts in Reno and some in Vegas), sends us clients to make press kits. I asked what they wanted, he told me, we made it.

I’ve talked to many of the small venues (bars, wine bars, restaurants, festivals, etc.) and most all of them confirm the benefit of a physical press kit. Only a small percentage actually require it, but it is pretty rare that they would not like one.

Here are the reasons.

Without an instant impression, there is less chance of follow up.
There may not be computer access or the computer may not have audio.
They may have serious intentions to checkout your website later, but things come up and pretty soon they forget.
A press kit sitting on a desk is harder to ignore. Yes, it may be instantly tossed, but odds are it will be opened and if it looks good, they may even read it and listen to the CD!
The perfect time for a busy person to listen to you is in the car where they can pop your CD in.

A full on press kit is not required, but something physical that gives an impact is beneficial. This works best in person.

One last thing, a quick compilation of your music is better than a full album (according to booking agents). Most people are not going to listen to the whole album and bad songs have just as much impact as good songs, so we will typically edit a 30 second highlight track together for the CD. Sometimes doing voice over (think radio spot).